Multi-core multi-thread processor
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a processor is provided. The processor includes at least two cores, where each of the cores include a first level cache memory. Each of the cores are multi-threaded. In another embodiment, each of the cores includes four threads. In another embodiment a crossbar is included. A plurality of cache bank memories in communication with the at cores through the crossbar is provided. Each of the plurality of cache bank memories are in communication with a main memory interface. In another embodiment a buffer switch core in communication with each of the plurality of cache bank memories is also included. A server and a method for optimizing the utilization of a multithreaded processor core are also provided.
1. A processor, comprising:
at least two cores, each of the at least two cores having a first level cache memory, each of the at least two cores being multi-threaded;
an interconnect structure including a buffer switch core in communication with a plurality of cache bank memories, the buffer switch core configured to communicate with multiple input/output (I/O) interfaces for external I/O devices and buffer direct memory access traffic from the I/O interfaces; and
the plurality of cache bank memories in communication with the at least two cores through the interconnect structure, each of the plurality of cache bank memories in communication with a main memory interface.
2. The processor of claim 1 , wherein the interconnect structure includes a crossbar in communication with each of the plurality of cache bank memories and the at least two cores.
3. The processor of claim 2 , further including:
an input/output bridge in communication with the crossbar and the external input/output devices the input/output bridge enabling control register transfers with the external input/output devices.
4. The processor of claim 2 , wherein the buffer switch core enables direct memory accesses into registers of the external input/output devices.
5. The processor of claim 1 , wherein the first level cache memory includes an instruction cache unit and a data cache unit.
6. The processor of claim 5 , wherein the pipeline is a single issue pipeline.
7. The processor of claim 1 , wherein each thread associated with the at least two cores is configured to run on a pipeline.
8. The processor of claim 1 , wherein the cache bank memories are single ported static random access memories.
9. The processor of claim 1 , wherein the buffer switch core communicates with the crossbar through an input/output bridge.
10. The processor of claim 1 , wherein I/O capability is integrated therein.
11. A server, comprising:
an application processor chip, the application processor chip, including:
a plurality of multithreaded central processing unit cores, each of the plurality of multithreaded central processing unit cores having a first level cache memory;
an interconnect structure including a buffer switch core in communication with a plurality of cache bank memories, the buffer switch core configured to communicate with multiple input/output (I/O) interfaces for external I/O devices and buffer direct memory access traffic from the I/O interfaces; and
the plurality of cache bank memories in communication with the at least two cores through the interconnect structure, each of the plurality of cache bank memories in communication with a main memory interface.
12. The server of claim 11 , wherein the interconnect structure includes a crossbar in communication with each of the plurality of cache bank memories, an input/output bridge and the plurality of multithreaded central processing unit cores, and the buffer switch core is in communication with the crossbar through the input/output bridge.
13. The server of claim 12 , wherein the input/output bridge enables control register transfers with the external I/O devices.
14. The server of claim 11 , wherein the server is selected from the group consisting of a web server, an application sewer and a database server.
15. The server of claim 11 , wherein the first level cache memory includes an instruction cache unit and a data cache unit.
16. The server of claim 11 , wherein each thread of the central processing unit cores is configured to run on a single issue pipeline.
17. The server of claim 11 , wherein the application processor chip has I/O capability integrated therein.